Holly Hicks

Holly G. Hicks (June 26, 1944 – August 16, 2023) was born in Danville, IL the
eldest of four daughters of career military parents. In her first 18 years, she lived
in Illinois, California, Georgia, Okinawa, Japan, Virginia, and New York.
Her favorite homes were in California and Japan. In Santa Barbara, CA, she loved
the backyard navel orange and eucalyptus trees, the swimming pool at the Coral
Casino Country Club, and the beautiful West coast beaches. In Tokyo, Japan, she
loved her high school years, serving as editor of her Narimasu High School
yearbook, singing soprano pop tunes in a popular all-girl quartet, and having fun
with lifelong friends shopping for angora sweaters and makeup on the Ginza
shopping avenue.
After attending Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, for the next 40
years, she lived and worked in the Washington, DC and New York City
metropolitan areas. Her administrative career included years with the Hertz
Corporation, the American Association of Museums, the American Freedom Train,
Stolt-Nielsen Shipping, Design & Production, United Way, Tracor, and Applied
Ordinance Technology/SAIC. She retired from SAIC in 2006.
As a retiree, Holly pursued her interests in cooking and entertaining family and
friends at elegant dinner parties. Her cheese soup, beef filet roast, twice baked
potatoes, banana cream pie, cheesecake, and huge recipe collection are legendary.
She enjoyed needlepointing, attending concerts and listening to music, shopping
for just the right piece of jewelry and gifts for others (Tiffany & Co. Fifth Avenue
was a favorite shop), traveling, completing crossword and word search puzzles,
wearing the perfect accessory especially her charm bracelet, and eating ice cream.

Holly’s greatest love was her small family – her sisters Marilyn Fitzgerald
(Michael), Shelley Hicks, and Tracy Betzler (Bill); two nephews — Dennis
Fitzgerald (Sandra) and Ryan Betzler; one niece Brooke Betzler Harmon (Brian);
three great nephews (Torin, Liam, and Eamon Fitzgerald); and one great niece
(River Harmon).
Holly was strong-willed yet sensitive, private, quiet, and a wonderful listener. We
will miss her sparkling eyes, elegant hands, beautiful smile, infectious laugh,
sweetness, generosity, empathy, and exquisite manners.
We thank the caring staff of Silverado Memory Care Community and the Silverado
Family Support Group, who have been Holly’s and our loving friends during the
past four years. We also thank Ascend Hospice for their guidance and compassion
during the past two weeks.
A private service honoring Holly’s life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations in her memory to
Compassion & Choices, PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
https://www.compassionandchoices.org/about-us

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